The Cine Star Archive film
evening on 8th Oct. 2013 was a joy, it went so well, Paul Dibbens and his family were so warm
and friendly and helpful, they loved the setting in the church and to be
showing the film in the village where a lot of it was filmed was perfect. There must have been well over a 100 guests,
the catering worked out well, enough left over so as we did not look stingy! We
raised £200 for the church.
The old film was very nearly
lost, after a clear out, only to be found by the late Eric Yates who had heard
about Paul Dibbens and passed the film to him. Paul's wife Elaine spent many
years searching for the location and family. Their efforts and dedication came
to fruition with the showing in the village.
It showed life here in the 1930s,
haymaking, out and about in the village itself and the Acland family at home
and abroad in the Sudan, training the troops on Exmoor and the young sons
training their ponies in the fields around Feniton. Playing Tennis and cricket.
John Bishop, a local retired farmer, remembers playing in the cricket team with Sir Anthony, there was Mr
Hapgood the head garden wearing his bowler hat, and Jo Chown also glimpsed
members of her family in the lane to Curscombe. It is thought one of the ladies
making jam was Gertrude Gibbins, my husband's grandmother, in her flowered
overall!
It was amazing, Sir Anthony
Acland , son of the old Brig, came, he had not seen the film since the 1940s
and he told us the background to the film scenes, just wonderful.
The Cine Star Archive is going to edit the film picking out the bits
filmed in the village and he will make the available on his website and for
free download.
Paul and Elaine's son Ricky
has made stills from the film and these are shown on the website and available
to purchase.
I want to thank everyone who
came on the night making it such a success Also. Many thanks go to the Group
members for all their help and support, in front of house and in the
kitchen.
I also need to offer thanks
the East Devon AONB for donating the 50th Anniversary Books, showing how
Brigadier Acland worked to get the AONB recognition in the 1950s.
Chris Gibbins.
